"What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year." - Vern McLellan
I spent time in Arizona with family. We hiked, a lot, took an ATV tour, a train ride and of course I took way too many pictures...
After a while my pictures all seemed to look the same. I had more than enough gorgeous, red mountain snapshots. I needed a different perspective. So I started looking at the parts which make up the landscape, rocks that bulged out, red dirt, the so very blue sky, the white sycamore trees...and then the moon (not quite full on this day) popped out over a mountain...and disappeared again...
Did I mention I was on a train at this point? The train was winding around the beautiful mountains, obviously moving, and I was stationary and hoping at least a few pictures out of the couple of hundred I took this day would be in focus. Then, on the return trip, I briefly see the moon. The sun, low and directly opposite the moon , created a deep blue sky for a background, even without a polarizer (a whole story in and of itself). A perfect picture, if the moon made another appearance...
I stood on the outside observatory car waiting as the scenery was passing by, hoping the moon and mountains would come together in some sort of pleasing way. Zoomed out to 70mm (Is that even considered zoomed out?) the train passed close to a mountain and the moon popped into view again. I took a shot...or two...
I am glad I waited.
I also tried something I haven't done in a while, I added a texture in the blue sky which I made from photographs of the red rocks. I think the whole image looks a little other-worldly... :)
I hope your Holidays were wonderful.
Today I am joining in on the last Scene and Story link-up with Sarah and Lee, where we share a favorite image from the previous month and the story behind it. Thank you ladies for hosting the link-up!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Stay warm! And have a beautiful day!
Michelle
That mooon was well worth waiting for. The whole scene is very pleasing with the mound of red rocks and the beautiful blue sky! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shot! You know my in-laws were in Arizona for the winter for ten years and we never made it out there, now they are staying here year round, at least for now. But my grandmother lived in Arizona for a while when I was going up so I have visited there a few times.
ReplyDeleteWhat a grand shot, and I love reading about your train ride, and taking so many photos. Happy New Year Michelle! Keeping shooting, and zooming your lens.
ReplyDeleteWaiting sometimes does have rewards! I like your story and the shot, Michelle. Happy 2018!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! Well worth the wait! And the texture is really nice. :) Happy 2018 to you, Michelle!! Happy shooting!
ReplyDeleteWell the photo is gorgeous and the moon so nicely placed. I love Arizona and have been there many times but not at Christmas...It sounds like a wonderful trip and so nice that you got to try some photo tricks and editing that you haven't done before...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Michelle.
Love your story, Michelle, so nice you enjoyed your time with family !
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photo ... and so special with the texture you created !
Wishing you a wonderful 2018 !
Sylvia
I love Arizona - the blue skies and red rocks and dry weather! Waiting for your shot was so worth it - I love the way your photo is composed with the mountain and the moon! It’s amazing to me how big the sky is - it really puts things into perspective. It sounds as though you had a wonderful new year.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you waited, too. This is such a beautiful shot, Michelle. I love the red rock country and know exactly about taking way too many photos. It's such a unique, fascinating landscape.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you as well.
How wonderful that you took a train on your travels at Christmas time. I have been wanting to take a train ride myself. I'm sure you got some beautiful photos along the way. Love this first quote about new year.....so true. I hope this new year brings much goodness to you, Michelle.
ReplyDelete~Sheri